Shariful M. Khan

Shariful M. Khan is a brigadier general in the United States Air Force, who is currently serving as Director of Staff, Golden Dome for America, assigned at the Pentagon. He is the first Bangladeshi-American to obtain this rank.

Career Khan began his career in 1997 as Assistant Regional Director of Admissions at the University of Michigan before completing Undergraduate Space and Missile Training at Vandenberg AFB in 1998. He then served at Onizuka AFS with the 5th Space Operations Squadron and 21st Space Operations Squadrons in roles including Upper Stage Operations Officer, Chief of Upper Stage Operations, and Executive Officer, alongside a deployment to Kuwait at Ali Al Salem Air Base with the 386th Air Expeditionary Group.

From 2002 to 2010, he took on a series of leadership positions in space operations. These included Chief of Command and Control Branch (NRO), Flight Commander and Operations Support Flight Commander with the 76th Space Control Squadron, duty with the 26th Space Aggressor Squadron, and later roles as Flight Commander and Assistant Operations Officer with the 380th Space Control Squadron. During this time, he also attended Squadron Officer School.

His education and strategic assignments continued from 2010 to 2016. He studied at the National Defense Intelligence College, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and later the Naval War College. Between studies, he served as Military Deputy in the Air Force Strategy Division at the Pentagon and commanded the 379th Space Range Squadron at Schriever AFB.

From 2017 onward, his career centered on senior leadership. He was the Executive Officer to the Chief of Air Force Reserve, then Director of U.S. Air Force Reserve Programs and Integration at the Pentagon. He went on to command the 310th Space Wing from 2020 to 2023, before serving as Mobilization Assistant to Chief Strategy and Resourcing Officer and Commander of Space Training and Readiness Command, two senior U.S. Space Force roles. Since July 2025, he has been Director of Staff for Golden Dome for America at the Pentagon.

Dates of promotion + Rank Date Second LieutenantMay 28, 1997 First LieutenantMay 28, 1999 CaptainMay 28, 2001 MajorDecember 6, 2006 Lieutenant ColonelAugust 10, 2012 ColonelJuly 17, 2017 Brigadier GeneralJune 30, 2025

Awards and decorations Khan has received numerous awards, which are shown below. Legion of MeritDefense Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal with three Oak leaf clusterJoint Service Commendation MedalAir and Space Commendation Medal with two Oak leaf clusterAir and Space Achievement Medal with one Oak leaf clusterAir Force Meritorious Unit AwardAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with four Oak leaf clusterAir Force Organizational Excellence AwardNational Defense Service Medal with service starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalArmed Forces Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalAir and Space Expeditionary Service RibbonAir and Space Longevity Service Award with one silver Oak leaf clusterArmed Forces Reserve MedalSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service starAir and Space Training Ribbon